eBay Listing goods including VAT alongside goods excluding VAT

regency_man

So I just got burned.  I bought a secondhand computer from a seller in Germany because in the eBay search results the German seller's 'total price + P&P' was £60 cheaper than the cheapest UK seller's 'total price + P&P'.  All listed in GBP. Low and behold, I've just been sent an invoice from UPS for £90 import taxes and another £13 for their processing fees making my purchase far from a good deal and actually more expensive overall. 

I thought there was some rule in UK consumer law that retailers had to display prices including all applicable taxes (or not including them, but it had to be clear)?  How on earth are consumers supposed to navigate this mess?  eBay lists items that include UK VAT for items sent from UK but excluding VAT for items sent from outside the UK as if they are identical comparable products. 

Further, the seller's listing says that I will be sent an invoice including VAT, but the invoice they sent does not include any VAT line.  Do I have any recourse?

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The goods will be shipped immediately after receipt of payment.
You will receive a shipping confirmation email.
Email inquiries will be answered ASAP.
You will receive an invoice showing VAT.

PHK

Not really, when you import goods from outside the UK, it's your responsibility to pay duty and any taxes plus any custom handling fees. 

regency_man

I'm not questioning that part.  I'm questioning whether eBay are allowed to list goods some including VAT and some excluding VAT next to each other without making it clear.  It's at best misleading. 

PHK

There is no law that says overseas sales on a site that sells internationally must display prices including any duties, taxes, fees or handling charges. 

It would be good practice for a site to tell you that charges might apply.

I know that when we where in the EU people got used to seeing an all inclusive price, so I understand why this situation might come as a surprise. There are several threads a month on this topic. 

eskbanker

regency_man said:

I'm questioning whether eBay are allowed to list goods some including VAT and some excluding VAT next to each other without making it clear.

Are you mixing up VAT and import duties?  Items exported from Germany to a non-EU country will probably be zero-rated for VAT, but will be subject to (different) import duties when entering the UK....

regency_man said:

How on earth are consumers supposed to navigate this mess?

Diligent research prior to importing items from other countries!

savergrant

Just clicked on an item listed as shipping from US;
"

eBay International Shipping

Est. delivery: Estimated between Thu, 30 Oct and Fri, 7 Nov

Postage: US $33.17 (approx £24.74)

Learn moreLearn more - estimated delivery date

Import fees

Est. £0.00

eBay is charging this fee to facilitate the import of your item on your behalf and ensure your item arrives without fees due to customs or third party service providers. Import fees may not be refundable."

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

eBay collect the VAT on under £135, over and it’s handled upon import in this manner OP.

savergrant

I understood that if a retailer purported to be selling from the UK they had to quote the total price, but it seems like it was quite clear you were buying from a German retailer and that selling to the UK was not their primary business. I think of eBay arranges the carriage they will quote you the import charges, but if it is custom postage you need to sort it out with the courier.

regency_man

savergrant said:

Just clicked on an item listed as shipping from US;
"

eBay International Shipping

Est. delivery: Estimated between Thu, 30 Oct and Fri, 7 Nov

Postage: US $33.17 (approx £24.74)

Learn moreLearn more - estimated delivery date

Import fees

Est. £0.00

eBay is charging this fee to facilitate the import of your item on your behalf and ensure your item arrives without fees due to customs or third party service providers. Import fees may not be refundable."

Yes, this is how I've been used to seeing international listings and it makes import fees very clear.  But my item, not so, it's listed in GBP (no currency conversion) and the shipping makes no reference to import fees.  The only reference to international shipping is:

Postage:

£14.55 Economy Delivery from outside UK.

Located in: Mönchengladbach, Germany

Here is another item from the same seller:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/136535210545 

regency_man

eskbanker said:

regency_man said:

I'm questioning whether eBay are allowed to list goods some including VAT and some excluding VAT next to each other without making it clear.

Are you mixing up VAT and import duties?  Items exported from Germany to a non-EU country will probably be zero-rated for VAT, but will be subject to (different) import duties when entering the UK....

Possibly, but UPS are completely opaque on it, there is no way to see what tax you are paying before you pay it, just 'Government Charges'.  I assume VAT because its ~20% of the item value. 

Okell

I suspect the law would take the view that "a reasonable man" buying something from outside the UK should be aware that VAT and import duties etc might be payable on such a purchase, and that "a reasonable" purchaser would make appropriate further enquiry.